Yeah. That’s it. That’s it. First of all, that’s it. She has to pay the price for betrayal. She had to pay a harsh price and make sure she never dreamed of betrayal again. The price must be paid for a lifetime.

‘While paying for a lifetime…’
Carlos unearthed a thought that had been hidden deep in his heart. Ah, yes. That’s it. Rustica Genesis will spend her lifetime atoning, and he will personally take care to make her pay a considerable, yet quite lenient, price.

“This is remarkably lenient for a sinner.” Carlos frowned at the thought. Nevertheless, it was unpleasant.

Why should his existence be a punishment for Rue? He should be happy and grateful, but she undoubtedly considered it a punishment.

It was indeed an unpleasant outcome. With so much he had built up, it would have been right to discard that filthy traitor by now.

“For whose sake!”

But even thinking about it made him angry. For whose sake did he do such a foolish thing! He couldn’t let her go for a lifetime. Since he had already enveloped her entire body, his power, which had penetrated to the bone marrow, would tightly grasp Rustica Genesis and make her live with him.

Even if Rue hated and despised him, Carlos was angry but couldn’t let her go. Desire conquered the wounded pride. He had never experienced anything like this, but that woman had turned him into a wretched fool. So he was angry, had to punish her, and the cycle continued.

Realizing he would be driven by desire, not reason, and that it would continue in the future, the discomfort did not go away.

Indeed, Rustica Genesis was a failure and a success for Carlos, satisfying vile desires and even paralyzing his sanity.

Hayden washed, fed, and looked around while combing Rue’s hair that she had put on her swollen eyes. The slightly mixed light brown hair, tinged with silver, was so smooth that the comb slipped.

He loved doing even trivial things for Rue himself. At the same time, he found it peculiar that he detested and avoided it when Rue tried to do the same for him.

“Then there are only two beings here? Those monsters and all the people tied up here?”

“Yes.”

Rue sighed.

“It’s such a dreadful place.”

“But it has decreased a lot. Both the monsters and the tied-up people.”

“It has decreased?”

Hayden nodded.

“I opened the barrier twice. It means the area of the barrier has decreased, and the people maintaining the barrier have disappeared accordingly.”

Ah, Rue nodded. The more people tied up here, the stronger the barrier becomes, and Carlos Aser Ingram becomes stronger.

“To be honest, I wanted to free them all, but that guy…”

Hayden revealed a chilling disdain and hatred for ‘that guy’ who created this world. However, the barrier remained silent and undisturbed. It was because the only human who had survived fiercely in this place had taken control.

Rue shuddered the moment she realized this fact. This barrier belonged to Hayden as well. A warm and large hand gently stroked her skin, giving her goosebumps.
“If he does that, he won’t leave you alone.”

He may have taken control of the barrier, but Rue disagreed. She thought quietly for a moment and then pursed her lips.

“No.”

He kindly smiled in response.

“No, Rue.”

“I haven’t finished talking.”

“Yes, I know. But no.”

“You won’t even listen?”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

Hayden, who firmly cut off the conversation, sighed at Rue’s following gaze.

“I’ll listen.”

“So, if you’re stronger than him, you can kidnap and tie him up…”

“The moment you tie him up, you’ll be tied up too. He seems to regard your head very specially, and there’s a high chance he’ll attack your brain.”

Hayden furrowed his brow. He didn’t want to think about it.

“Then what if I kill him before he does that?”

“You’ll die.”

Carlos Aser Ingram was a man particularly developed in a sense of survival and desire. Instinctively, or rather, with survival instinct intertwined with desire, he relentlessly entangled Rue with a new curse, hanging onto her wickedly.

Hayden felt nauseous. The desire to entangle with Rue, the desire to survive intertwined with it, and the disgusting and pathetic aspects of using Rue to survive were repulsive.

‘Surely, Rue doesn’t even think or admit that she is opposing me with her survival style.’

He belonged to a class that would never tolerate his own pride collapsing. As Hayden was gauging the enemy who held his lover’s life, Rue, who had been carefully considering, asked.

“Well, how about putting him in a coma before he does that and cursing him?”

“You’ll fall asleep too.”

“I don’t mind.”

“So it’s not allowed. It won’t work.”

He decisively cut her off.

“Why? I’m fine.”

Hayden turned Rue around and hugged her.

“I’m not okay. …I don’t know if you’ll be able to wake up after falling asleep because of him.”

You never know what a parasite attached to a host will do as its last act.

“Don’t ask me to try that. I can’t do it. And I hope you don’t waste your time again.”

Hayden tilted his head.

“There are still many things you haven’t experienced because you’ve been asleep for a long time. You should try being a viscount more.”

He forced a smile. Rue immediately sensed some fear in that laughter. She bit her lower lip, melted it, and leaned on him.

“Sorry. I didn’t even think about leaving you behind.”

Hayden, realizing it instantly and seeing Rue’s apologetic face, kissed her. The expression of deep regret was enough. Rue, who had finally managed to speak, mumbled apologetically.

“I feel like I’m just causing trouble, making accidents without doing anything.”
“Don’t keep apologizing. It’s okay now. You’ve done enough to last a lifetime. If you really want to do something…”

“What is it? What do you want? Rue looked up at him. If there was something she desired, she wanted to do anything for him too.

“I hope you start taking care of yourself a bit.”

Rue, with thin gray eyes, tilted her head slightly at the unexpected request.

“Sorry. I won’t do that.”

“Stop apologizing.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think Rue just wants to hear apologies from me. I don’t want to hear such words from my loved one.”

Rue, who had been quietly listening, raised her face again and met his gaze.

“Yeah, I’ll do that. I got it.”

She nodded vigorously. Every movement she made caused Hayden’s pale light to dance with her. It was because he delicately took care of every movement, held onto her bones to prevent pain.

“I always prioritize you over myself. Be more careful before helping others.”

Today, Rue listened well to his words. She understood everything. Satisfied, Hayden tilted his head slightly.

“Well, if you want to listen to me more, forget about leaving me.”

“I won’t do that. And even if I do, I know you’ll chase after me to the end.”

Hayden, with a playful smile, looked at Rue as if he was impressed. Does he intentionally act like this, knowing that he’s annoying but pretty?

“That’s why I like it. I’m so happy that you’ll stay with me to the end.”

Ah, he won. Hayden once again completely and ruthlessly surrendered today, happily kissing the victor.